14 JAN 07: LET'S GET GROWING

Today's title is borrowed from an old television and radio gardening show in Kansas City. We're applying it to Columbus, because a new report shows this area is in for strong economic growth in the next few years. The faster Mayor Wetherington decides the city budget needs a sales tax increase, the better....

The economic outlook comes from experts at the University of Georgia. They came to town Friday, and predicted the Columbus area will grow strongly over the next two years. The Fraternal Order of Police is wondering if the UGA group also brought an updated pay plan.

While the University of Georgia economists expect moderate growth nationwide this year and next, they believe Columbus will top that. The growth should be SO dramatic that.... well, have you seen all the trees budding around town this month?

If you follow the news at all, you can probably guess what will fuel the strong economic expansion in Columbus. There's Fort Benning and BRAC, the growth at Aflac, and the Kia plant's.... uh.... hey, Mr. Kia Executive! Come up with a car name which rhymes with BRAC and Aflac.

Put the big three projects together, and the University of Georgia projects 15,000 new jobs for the Columbus area in coming years. Let's all hope the local mills time their layoffs properly....

The University of Georgia experts say the troop shifts to Fort Benning will mean more than two billion dollars in new construction on post, and millions more off-post. You already can see signs of this -- although for some odd reason, they're building a Waffle House in Ladonia and NOT on Victory Drive.

One growth area you might not expect is in "hospitality." The University of Georgia experts say it will increase 25 percent in Columbus in the next few years -- so if you tried and failed to rent out your house for the 1996 Olympics, another chance could be coming.

Economists also note an interesting reversal of population trends. Retired people are moving to Georgia and Alabama, instead of going all the way to Florida. They can spot the effects of global warming as well as anybody....

In fact, the Eufaula Tribune had a story several months ago about fed-up Floridians moving to the Lake Eufaula area to escape hurricanes. How many of them called the Chamber of Commerce to complain, after a tornado hit Barbour County homes last week?

Mike Gaymon of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce says it was good to hear University of Georgia experts confirm what his office has been projecting. But I know there are still skeptics, who doubt the area will grow as much as projected -- and many of them probably will complain, when the roads in their neighborhoods suddenly become overcrowded.

Given this good economic news, it was no surprise that WRBL's Saturday night news showed an "opportunity fair" by the Society of Women Entrepreneurs. The goal was to prepare female business owners for all the coming growth. For instance: order plenty of items in khaki green for the Fort Benning families....

E-MAIL UPDATE: It's now official - we have a new correspondent in Hurtsboro, and he's writing us again:

Richard:

Sorry that you had to take extreme measures to obtain a copy of the "Citizen" [8 Jan] - but I'm glad you did! Look at it this way - it was much easier than a bumper push from "Hurt"sboro, and a better bargain to boot!

I've got a thought to run by you. There's a lot of conversation these days about discomfort and cruelty.in every aspect of modern day life - let me give an example.

If an individual goes fishing and lands a big fish; the Outdoor journals headline the acheivment, and PETA condemns it! What about the poor worm? Through no fault of its own it's caught between a rock and a hard place! If a fish doesn't swallow it, it's dumped along the shore for disposal by the birds.

The parable applies equally well to Journalists and "Whistle Blowers." If you tell it "like it is," your bound to make someone unhappy! I'm just a rookie at this "justice" business - but I've discovered that the process of going from the bottom up - stalls along the way. The process of going from the top down, never gets started. And, only a mixture of the two will sometimes succeed.

I giot my ears "boxed" today - for going over someone's head. They got the impression I was looking over their shoulder (I was) and they didn't like it! My patience had worn thin. I had waited almost two years on this particular matter; and I will not wait much longer to see it corrected!

I stuck my nose into this "slop" jar of my own volition - I expect to get some bumps and bruises along the way, and only time will determine the outcome. In the meantime, I'm going to arbitrate a cause for the worms.

Constable R.J. Schweiger

The Constable's parable has a flaw or two. For one thing, plenty of people fish with plastic bait these days - even though I haven't heard People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stick up for earthworms.

So why can't a Russell County Constable look over someone's shoulder? The new mayor of Columbus has promised to do it, when necessary -- but then again, Jim Wetherington is the man in charge. Based on what I've heard and read about Hurtsboro, I'm not sure a constable is in charge of anything there.

Yes, patience is a virtue when it comes to resolving government problems. Remember, the Republicans waited more than five years before they impeached President Clinton.

We have one more e-mail -- and it's about the current President, who visited Fort Benning this past week:

The Atlanta Journal ,Fri paper,quoted Gen Wojdakowski as having told his troops they were not to talk about the Pres.speech...They are out putting their lives on the line to protect our Constitutional rights and yet they don't even have First Amendment rights...Where is the ACLU?

Rights? Do you really think soldiers have first amendment rights? This reminds me of a story my Pastor tells, of a teenager who became fed up with his parents' rules and orders at home - so he decided to get even with them. He ran off and joined the Marines....

I thought I saw a few Fort Benning soldiers on TV Thursday night, talking about the President's visit. But then, talking about his visit is different from talking about his speech -- and you don't dare criticize the Commander-in-Chief for being unable to pronounce "nuclear."

By the way, did you hear Mayor Jim Wetherington talk about what happened when he shook hands with President Bush? The "Big Chief" told WRBL the President said: "Me and Sanford [Bishop] have been talking about you." So what did they say? Do they think the mayor needs to loosen up, too?

The new mayor finds a place in other holiday weekend news....

+ The annual Martin Luther King Junior "Parade of Excellence" rolled through downtown Columbus and Phenix City. Mayor Jim Wetherington took part, saying, "I want to represent all the people of Columbus, Georgia." Someone needs to remind the new mayor he doesn't need to campaign anymore.

+ Tickets went on sale at the RiverCenter for a Taylor Hicks concert February 28. I assume Mayor Wetherington will be at this event, too - since he'd support anything involving a patrol, even if it's a "Soul Patrol."

+ The Columbus Symphony Orchestra staged a concert with the percussion group "Chix With Stix." I saw this name on a billboard, and thought it was a new item on the menu at Krystal.

+ The "Real Time" telecast on NBC-38 found Cascade Hills Church Pastor Bill Purvis interviewing and recommending a cardiologist -- in the middle of a sermon. I thought only the small-budget churches on AM radio did that, with sponsorships from beauty parlors and funeral homes.

+ The Columbus Civic Center hosted two nights of Pro Bull Riding. Or as they might call it on prime-time television - "Dancing With the Steers."

(I jogged by the Cow Palace Civic Center Friday afternoon, and could tell the PBR Tour had arrived. The smell gave it away - but thankfully, no waves of flies did.)

+ Georgia Tech head football coach Chan Gailey interviewed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Somehow, I don't think this is the right fit for him. Someone named "Gailey" would sound more appropriate in Miami than in Pittsburgh.

+ Instant Message to the Auburn Kroger store: You're kidding, right? I mean, selling Easter candy in mid-January - a month before Valentine's Day?! I know we've had a mild winter, but really....

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $1.99 a gallon at Summit on U.S. 280 in south Opelika.... Parisian quitting-business discounts now at 40 to 60 percent.... and the Columbus Civic Center might be in the market for air freshener....

COMING MONDAY: Are we marking the wrong civil rights activist's birthday?....

This blog had more than 28,000 visits in 2006, from people in Columbus and around the world. To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 3290 (- 274, 7.7%)

If you mention this blog in public, please be polite enough to let me know.

© 2003-07 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.